Advancing toward the Next Generation Internal Combustion Engine - The Free Piston Engine. History of Ken Galitello and Galileo Research.

Galileo Free Piston Engine Documents

Galileo Free Piston Engine VIDEOS

FREE PISTON ENGINE LINKS

About Galileo Research and Ken Galitello

Galileo Research, Inc. is no longer in business due to insufficient funding in 2001. The principal, Ken Galitello, Jr. began research in Free Piston Engine technology in 1987. Our SBIR proposal to DARPA in 1993 prompted the DOD and DOE to fund development of the technology, with others to follow in modeling and development.

Attached are files of work I have done with Galileo Research, Inc. from 1990 to 2001. I am thankful to God for my experience in development of the Free Piston Engine, truly a leap in internal combustion engine technology. It was quite exciting in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s with just a couple of serious players in the field, while discovering the boundless attributes of the technology, especially with regard to lean multi-fuel capability, near zero emissions and increased overall efficiency to that of traditional engines, yet simple but complex in design. I was first to see research on Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) done at the University of Wisconson, Madison, in that it may be used in the Free Piston Engine with near zero NOx emissions. I had seen the Free Piston Engine concept as a leap over conventional internal combustion engines, Generator Sets, Compressor Sets, Hydraulic Pump technology and Vacuum technology. Regarding Fuel Cells, the Free Piston Engine offers about 50% efficiency like that of Fuel Cells, but Fuel Cells use energy in winter conditions when temperatures drop below 32 degrees F to keep them warm and water vapor/condensate from freezing and destroying vital components.

I contacted Southwest Research Institute in 1991-92 to see if they would work with us in obtaining funding and investigation on the Free Piston Engine technology and was turned down. Those documents were part of what was stolen in 2008-2009. Although we gave an SBIR proposal to DARPA (ARPA) in 1993 (see attached RA 93-24) and were turned down for funding, we were not spoken to or considered for development of the technology and am disappointed with DARPA and in the government for such actions. After being turned down in March 1994, DARPA held a conference on Free Piston Engine technology shortly thereafter, where we were not informed of nor invited to, but later learned that several dozen defense contractors, federal agencies, businesses and universities attended, some of whom received funding from DARPA (ARPA) and the DOE. We then submitted a SBIR proposal to DARPA (ARPA) in 1994 (see attached RA 94-24) working under guidance of Northeast Vehicle Consortium and were again turned down. Later we found out that Southwest Research Institute did the evaluation, after they received funding from DARPA for “FREE-PISTON ENGINE LINEAR GENERATOR FOR HYBRID VEHICLESMODELING STUDY”. There was no recourse against DARPA per Congress or Senators. Someone or group at DARPA must have gotten quite a raise or promotion as what we submitted caused quite a stir and got things moving. Instead of helping a small business through the SBIR program that we submitted our proposal under, DARPA was now in charge of several parties doing R&D on the technology. I was also disappointed in Business and investors for not backing the technology in the 1990’s, Fuel Cells were all the rage, where are they now?

What happened, happened. I kept on with research and development with what little funding we received, developing a crude operational prototype to demonstrate its feasibility. We did however establish a joint research effort with M.I.T. in the late 1990’s developing an innovative Coaxial Counter Oscillating Anti Vibration Linear Alternator technology, until after operations I had in 2001 and 2002 left me unable to continue and had to abandon all efforts and close the company.

In July-August 2008, as oil prices were at $140.00 per barrel, I decided to look at my past research and what was developing with the technology. In late September 2008 I received a call from ex-Congresswoman Nancy Johnson asking me repeatedly if I had any Patents or Patents Pending. Thereafter I went to access my research and found that most of it had been stolen, fortunately they did no get everything. No recourse was to be had from CT State Police, the F.B.I. or anyone else. Again thieves were in my home at least twice more, taking anything they could get on the technology. Who was behind it? Shame on them for stealing from the wheelchair bound handicapped and disadvantaged. Why not work with me.

Attached are files from my work on the Free Piston Engine technology, Galileo’s SBIR Proposals, two Videos of Galileo’s prototype and Galileo’s Business Plan. The prototype shown was constructed with off the shelf parts of a Sterling Linear Alternator and Weed Wacker Internal Combustion Heads. Galileo Research tried unsuccessfully to obtain funding for a Next Generation Prototype that would utilize Homogenous Compression Ignition Combustion like we initially suggested in 1992 and Sandia Labs pursued and presented in 1995-1998.

There is much more I had to offer, now I have trouble making it through the day. What is here will get you started on an understanding of the technology and Galileo’s efforts. Browse through the documents and videos below.

Best of luck to you.

Ken Galitello, Jr.

Browse through the Documents and Videos below

Video 1

Video 2

Click the icons above to launch the videos of the Galileo FPE engine running (Uses Windows Media Player)If having trouble opening, Download Video File, Locate File on your Computer, Right Click on Video File and Open With Windows Media Player.